"Unlike security guards, auxiliary police must go through a training module similar to the police force, which will boost their skills and abilities to better handle their jobs," he said.

"Furthermore, they are granted some of the police powers such as carrying out minor investigations or making arrests within their area of jurisdiction," he said.

However, he said the total number an organisation can employ will be decided by the force. The quota, he said, will be based on the needs of each organisation.

"Currently, there are four banks with auxiliary police within their organisations, namely Bank Negara Malaysia, Public Bank Berhad, Maybank Berhad and Bank Simpanan Nasional," he continued, after meeting with security managers for all banking institutions at Menara Bank Islam today.

"We will leave it to the bank to decide (engagement of auxiliary police) because it involved bank's financial expenditure," he said.